A New Kind of Christmas

This year, Mike declared that Christmas just isn't the same. That's due to the ridiculously mild weather we're still enjoying and the fact that we're "grown up". He said it's just not the same when you grow up. Then, I quickly reminded him that it would be exciting in a new way. While we've always enjoyed giving gifts, being the lesser of all grown-ups in Christmas past means we are often the recipients of the Christmas treasures. Now, we'll be enjoying the giving part of the season even more as we've joined the ranks of parents. I imagine next year will feel even less "the same" for us.

While Garrett's first Christmas was this year, he barely was awake for his showering of gifts at the three Christmases we've celebrated thus far (pics as proof below). Next year will be different as he'll be moving and likely able to open his own gifts! He'll be more expressive and able to show excitement (we'll work on gratitude once he's talking) and that will make the holiday that much more exciting. It will be hard to keep him out of his presents. If he's anything like his daddy, this won't be a phase he ever outgrows either!

This year, we have to thank everyone who made his first Christmas special. We got to spend time with family the entire holiday weekend. We made it through a 2 1/2-hour trip to see his daddy's side of the family. He made it all the way there and we only had to stop once on the way home-super trooper! We enoyed company and exchanging gifts and updates with those we don't see much other than this time of year. We were burdened with a bout of food poisoning OR a flu bug but blessed to be with Mike's parents for some extra hands for the babe and extra care for the bigger babe: his father. We missed out on a lot of good food due to the ailment but we made out like bandits when counting our blessings in recovery (and were reminded of such when struggling to fit all our treasures into an suv that can fit 8 people).

While the time and fellowship spent with friends and family were the best gifts this year as in all years, there were many sentinmental treasures for Mommy this year that I must mention. This year, all the "you're a mommy now" gifts were much appreciated. This includes the ring that holds Garrett's birthstone, the bracelet that holds a picture of my two favorite men, the cookbook for $5 dinners (I've always been cheap but this is awesome now), the bubble bath that holds a sliver of promise I might get time to take one in the near future, the bracelet bearing G-Man's initial, the clothing that says a mommy can still look good, and the gifts that told us to still have a life (dinner & a movie, Daddy?). Then, we shockingly added a big screen TV to the list of goodies! Top it all off with getting to spoil my boys and capture some of these memories on camera, and I'm one lucky lady!

Our greatest gift:

Sleeping Beauty!